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W. H. RUSHFORTH.

TICKET CASE.

Patented Dec. 20,1881;

UNiTEn STATES PATENT Greece \VILLIAM H. RUSHFORTH, ()F CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO HENRY STOKES FRENCH, JAMES K. STREET, AND JOHN BURR, ALL OF SAME PLACE.

TICKET-CASE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 251,296, dated December 20, 1881.

Application filed April 8,1881. (N model.) I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY RUSH- FORTH, of Camden, New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Railway and other Ticket- Cases, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to the class of pigeonholes or assorting-cases which are employed in ticket-offices, theaters, and other establish- 1 0 ments of trade for containing assorted railway, theater, or other tickets, checks, and the like; and its object is the provision of a safety-case from which but one ticket can be removed at a time, thereby insuring against the loss of tickets by the careless withdrawal of the same, while at the same time providing a serviceable case and one easily adapted to be supplied with the tickets or other slips which it is intended to contain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of acase embodying myinvention in theposition which itoccupiesin use. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line a a of Fig. 1, looking from above 2 in the direction of the length of the case; Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the same when placed vertically; Fig. 4, a side sectional detail of the ticket-withdrawing extremity or nose of the case; Fig. 5, an enlarged partially-sectional and partially-elevational detail of the followeractuating or feed screw and the threaded split nut of the follower; and Fig. 6, a perspective view of the rear of the nose of the case, showing the finger-roller through the medium 5 of which the follower feed-screw is actuated.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the accompanying drawings, A are the two sides of a skeleton box or case, substan- 0 tially of the form shown, which sides are similarly beveled off at angles, in such manner that when said angular faces are placed vertically the box will assume the inclined position which it occupies in Fig. l. The sides are braced to- 4 5 gether to form a skeleton-box, so to speak, by

means of cross-pieces B, or kindred uniting devices. Along the front, rear, and angular faces ofthe sides inwardly-overlapping ed ge-strips 0 are formed, the object of which is to retain the tickets within the skeleton-box and prevent 5o theirinscrtion thereinto or removal therefrom otherwise than in the manner contemplated in the use of the device.

D are a series of tickets of uniform size, to the size of which the box is formed, so that when the tickets are in place within the box they occupy the positions shown in the drawings.

E is a follower, made of the form of a triangular block, and adapted to move freely within the box in the direction of the length thereof.

In the angular position in which the box is intended to be placed itis obvious that the tendency of the weight of the follower will be to cause it to rest upon the tickets and keep them together.

At the apex of the angles of the nose portion of the box the edge-strips of the back and angled front faces of the sides are cut through to form escape-slots F, which, in the angular position of the box, stand vertical, and which, when the thumb of the user is applied to the front of the front face of the foremost ticket, permit the withdrawal through them of said ticket from the box in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The width of these slots is such as to permit of the passage of asingle ticket at a timeviz., the width of a ticket.

G is a finger-roller, transversely journaled slightly above the rear of the nose of the box. It is formed into or provided with a beveled pinion, H, which meshes with a bevel-pinion, I, affixed to the lower extremity of the following feed-screw J, which is journaled in the rear cross-pieces, B, so as to be parallel to the axis of the box. It is obvious that the rotation of the finger-roller will cause the revolution of the screw through the medium of the bevelgear.

K is a split nut, one half of which is affixed o rigidly to the top of the follower, While the other half is carried upon the end of a lever,

L, pivoted upon the top of the follower and held in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 by means of the set-spring M. When in 5 this latter position the threaded split nut embraces the follower feed'screw, so that a revo lution of the latter in the proper direction will cause the split nut, and with it the follower, to move a predetermined distance down the box.

Such being-the construction of my device, it will be understood that the box is practically a skeleton, open at back and front, and connected together only by light cross-braces or thelike.

In the application of the casein aframe-work its nose portion is to be left projecting out, so that when it is desired to withdraw a ticket the thumb and forefinger of the operator can grasp both the front face of the ticket and the fin ger-roller. A'pressure ofthe thumb and finger together and a downward movement of the same combine to draw the front ticket through the escape-slot and to revolve the finger-roller, so as to cause the revolution of the screw and thereby the movement of the follower down upon the tickets, so as to compact them together again and hold the front ticket in fric tional contact with the edge-strips of the angled edge of the box, thereby preventing it from falling through the escape-slots. The above action is to be repeated with each ticket until all of the tickets have been withdrawn, after which the lever L is to be sprung over into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to open the split nut and enable the removal of the follower from the top of the box and the introduction of a new series of tickets thereinto.

Any given series of these boxes can be arranged in a suitable frame-work or case.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In combination, the skeleton-box constructed as herein described, the follower sliding therein, the finger-roller, bevel-gear, follower feed-screw, and split nut, substantially as set forth.

2. As a device for drawing the follower down the box, the follower feed-screw, in combination with the finger-roller and with the split nut on the follower, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the follower and the follower feed-screw, the split nut, one portion of which latter is supported upon the end of a spring-controlled lever, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of March, A. D. 1881,

WILLIAM HENRY RUSHFORTII.

In presence of-- JOHN J OLLEY, J12, J. BONSALL TAYLOR. 

